SPLENDORA, Texas – A planned student walkout at Splendora High School led to confusion on campus and sparked strong reactions from both students and parents, as the state warns school districts about how protests are handled during the school day.
The walkout unfolded as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued new guidance cautioning districts against encouraging or facilitating student protests during instructional hours.
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Student says plan for peaceful walkout fell apart
A student involved in the planned walkout told KPRC 2 News Reporter Ricky Muñoz that students intended to leave class and walk to a nearby public stadium to hold what he described as a peaceful protest. He said the plan was to gather quietly, hold signs and avoid disrupting others.
According to the student, that plan never happened.
He told Muñoz that when students attempted to leave their classrooms, they found campus exits blocked or locked, including areas they believed would be open. He said students tried multiple routes to get outside but were redirected, blocked or unable to exit as expected. The student also said law enforcement officers were positioned around campus during the attempt to walk out.
The student told Muñoz that many classmates had prepared flags, posters and signs ahead of time, expecting to participate. Instead, he says most students were unable to leave the building and became frustrated as they tried to figure out what was happening.
At that point, the student said some classmates returned to class or tried to leave campus another way, while others asked to be picked up and go home. He described confusion among students who believed they were trying to protest peacefully but felt restricted in doing so.
The student said the goal was not to cause problems or disrupt school operations, but to draw attention to concerns affecting students and their families. He added that the campus response made students feel like their voices were being shut down rather than heard.
Parents raise concerns about safety and class time
Not all parents supported students leaving class during the school day.
Two parents who spoke with KPRC 2 News asked not to show their faces but shared concerns about safety, supervision and missed instruction time. One parent said while they believe students have the right to express themselves, school hours are not the appropriate time to protest.
Another parent said their child chose to stay in class to avoid disciplinary consequences, adding that staying focused on academics and extracurricular commitments was a priority. Both parents said they were concerned about emotions running high on campus and the potential for situations to escalate.
State issues warning to school districts
The situation at Splendora High School comes as the TEA released new guidance warning districts not to encourage or help facilitate student walkouts during instructional time.
According to the agency, potential consequences could include students being marked absent, districts losing state funding, disciplinary action against educators and possible state oversight or takeover of a district. The agency says its focus is on student safety and keeping students in class.
Governor Greg Abbott also weighed in on the issue in a post on X, calling school walkouts disruptive and saying schools and staff who allow them should face consequences. Abbott added that more action could be coming.
It’s about time students like this were arrested. Harming someone is a crime -- even for students.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 3, 2026
Disruptive walkouts allowed by schools lead to just this kind of chaos.
Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as co-conspirators and should not be…
District responds
KPRC 2 News reached out to Splendora ISD to ask about the student’s allegations, including whether doors were locked or blocked and what role law enforcement played on campus during the walkout attempt.
Splendora ISD responded with the following statement:
Thank you for reaching out and for the opportunity to provide clarity regarding today’s events at Splendora High School.
At no time were campus doors locked or intentionally blocked to prevent students from exiting the building. As is standard practice, exterior doors remain locked from the outside for campus security; however, the doors were not locked or blocked from the inside. Students were not physically prevented from leaving campus, and the fact that students exited the building, as you reported, confirms this.
Additional administrators and law enforcement officers were present on campus solely to ensure student safety and maintain order. Their role was not to prohibit students from leaving, but to monitor the situation, provide supervision, and respond to any safety concerns that might arise during an unscheduled disruption to the school day.
Administrators and staff were instructed to continue normal school operations, follow district attendance and safety protocols, and remind students of campus expectations. Students who chose to leave campus without proper checkout did so of their own accord and were subject to standard attendance procedures, including being marked absent, in accordance with district policy.
Law enforcement officers did not restrict access or block exits. Their presence was preventive, intended to support campus administrators and ensure the safety of students and staff during situations involving heightened activity and movement on campus.
Regarding the district’s approach more broadly, Splendora ISD respects students’ constitutional rights; however, we are also required by state law and guidance from the Texas Education Agency to ensure student attendance, supervision, and safety during the instructional day. Texas public school districts are prohibited from supporting or facilitating political activism that disrupts learning, and educators are prohibited from encouraging or facilitating student departures from class or campus for political activity.
These expectations are not intended to be punitive. Our goal is to protect students, preserve instructional time, and maintain a secure learning environment for all students. Families who wish for their children to engage in civic expression are encouraged to do so outside of the school day and in ways that do not compromise student safety.
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify these points for parents and the community.
Splendora Independent School District
More walkouts planned
Additional student protests and walkouts are planned at other schools later this week across the Houston area and Texas, as districts continue to respond to increased scrutiny from state leaders.